hey guys, hope you don't mind a little whining... i went to fix my valve cover gasket, it got hung up at #6 and was leaking like crazy. when i moved the a/c hose, it blew off and about made me deaf. it was the one that hooks up to the top of the compressor. well, now for my whining... i bought this car for the a/c, it's 108* outside. the carburetor looks like a whale coming up for air (shoots a cloud of gas) and will start but sputters at first. i sprayed carb cleaner in it (was rebuilt only about 2 months ago) and i really didn't get to find out if it helped. it has a fuel filter and a fuel reg. in line, so i don't know why it's acting up, unless the gas tank is dirty. so my question is where can i get this a/c line fast? also, should i take the a/c belt off. will it hurt the compressor to drive it with the belt on but a/c off? thanks!

Don't know about the hose, but you don't have to remove the belt.......

The pulley will freewheel unless the AC is engaged.

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

Ya cain't get that A/C line fast, unfortunately. But ask the guys at

Arizona Mobile Air Inc.
3601 West Clarendon Ave.
Phoenix, Arizona 85019
(602) 233-0090

Refer to your car as a "1974 Valiant" or a "1974 Dart" ("Scamp" does not appear in the books; that's a submodel of Valiant). They probably won't have the line waiting for you on the shelf, but they, or another shop like them and closer than 90 minutes' drive away, will probably offer your best chance at a solution.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

SlantSixDan: i called "Az. Mobile Air" and he said that the best he could do is repair the one i have for about $25.00-$40.00. i think i might as well shop around here in town to see if i can get it done locally(it would be faster). thanks, for your help!

Yeah, having the hose assembly "re-hosed" is probably about the best you're going to do -- and if it's done well and carefully, the repaired line winds up better than the original, for now they use barrier hose. This is an excellent, excellent time to have all the soft lines re-hosed and install a parallel-flow condenser for much improved A/C performance and reduced power drain on the engine with the A/C on.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

sorry, it took me so long to get back with you guys, but i had to go to work. i did a little research and all i found was a conversion kit on "ebay" item # 7972780943. it's called a "rotary" compressor. is this different from a parallel flow compressor? do you know who sells a good compressor for a "1974 scamp" at a fair price? thanks again for your help!

No, no, you're looking at the wrong thing. Leave your *COMPRESSOR* alone. Replace your *CONDENSER* with a parallel-flow item, which AZ Mobile Air or any other good shop can supply.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

COOL!!! i'm 48 years old and i learned something NEW that i can do and fix up my car, something i NEVER knew about!! i'm like a kid in a toy store with a couple dollars in my hand. problem is i don't understand what i'm looking at... i WILL my homework and look in to these "CONDENERS"". ever see a kid's eye's light up when you take the time to explain something to him he didn't understand? well.... thank you!

Glad to help; parallel-flow condenser info is Here.

If you're interested in looking at how the different refrigerants perform in systems with different kinds of condensers, and in different ambient temperature ranges, there is a very thorough test Here.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Hey Dan, I guess those test results, kinda bust the myth about R134a not cooling as good as R-12. As long as there is enough heat rejection in the condenser, R134a is a viable replacement for R-12. Which I knew anyway.
Seems like I recall reading that test somewhere, awhile back. Might have been in "Coolprofits" magazine.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Yep. What usually winds up unsatisfactorily is a cheap 'n' nasty R134a "retrofit" in which the stock R12 condenser is retained.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

i am going to call Arizona Mobile again and talk to them. i think it would be worth the ride to go up to Phoenix and have them fix me up. i noticed that the tests they did, the temperatures were right at our temps. here in Tucson. i also noticed that the most i saw the set up with r134a and parallel flow condenser high side pressure pressure was only at 263. where as the "tube and fin" set-up actually shut down. first i need to get the car running good enough for the trip. i plan on doing some work on "her" this (4) day weekend. thanks!